As the size of the group gradually grew, Lin Lan no longer needed to hide in the dark underground chamber of the manor.
As a highly capable witch of action, Lucia had already transformed the underground layers of the manor into the main research base for the Ark, connecting the underground layer to the mansion’s back garden.
Lin Lan and Ed walked down the steps, pushed open the door, and saw drafts and diagrams scattered across the table, while the Blond Witch was busy with something in the corner of the room.
Today, Lucia had changed into loose and comfortable overalls.
Combined with simple goggles, gloves, and boots, the girl’s style and aura at this moment were full of vitality.
Her pointed ears twitched and the bright silver ’Arm Armor’ adhered to Lucia’s arms, with its metal outer joints unfurling layer by layer as a spiral hot stream stabilized before the girl’s eyes.
The tool Lucia was using was a small Light Beam Cutter that Lin Lan had brought out from a side mission.
Lucia was diligently cutting a piece of composite metal board, the beam diving into the depth of the metal with a slight sizzling sound.
"Roland, you’re here."
The girl noticed Lin Lan’s footsteps, she turned around, pushed the goggles up onto her head, revealing a bright smile: "This treasure you gave me is really handy!"
"As long as you like it." Lin Lan responded with a smile.
Lucia never liked pretty dresses and those shiny jewels, but as long as she’s given a handy treasure tool, this girl could be happy for several days and would wish to hug the tool to sleep.
She was practically born to work.
Ed stood silently to the side, apart from facing the Lord, this guy would always show a cold, indifferent face to everyone else.
"Is it going smoothly repairing that ’big guy’?"
Lin Lan looked at the metal in the girl’s hands which had been cut into a ring. This material is originally used on the shells of vehicles, perfectly fit for the big moth.
"At first, I couldn’t understand a thing, but Bai kept accessing her database to help me comprehend the structure of police-type intelligent machines."
Lucia’s tone was light and filled with interest and excitement: "Many times, I’m rather assisting Bai, while patching up the damages on the big guy’s shell."
This girl was visibly enjoying herself.
At that moment, a few more footsteps caught the attention of Lin Lan and Ed, they turned their heads to see a few strange ’black-haired maids’ entering the room laden with heavy materials.
Their steps were orderly, their faces delicate and pretty yet their expressions were somewhat stiff and simple.
Soon after, the leading maid stood in front of Lin Lan, wearing a smile, she bowed her head, and made a perfect courteous gesture towards Lin Lan.
"Identity verification complete, bionic sequence has been permanently bound to you, the full-range service program has officially launched."
A detached voice rang in everyone’s ears, she maintained her smiling curve: "Pleased to serve you, Master."
The other maids also wore similar smiles, gathering around Lin Lan’s side.
"Is this the bionic mechanical servants after completing the splicing?" Lin Lan closely observed the maids before him.
"Yes, without their help, I couldn’t rearrange your underground room in such a short time."
Lucia was satisfied as she watched the materials the maids brought in, she muttered to herself: "They’re way more diligent than Captain Eleanor..."
Lin Lan nodded.
Yet, being surrounded by these maids for a moment, he actually felt a slight chill in his heart...
Because they were totally different from Bai.
Although Bai usually stayed silent, her first impression was that of a cold girl not good with words; when the white-haired maid tilted her head in confusion, Bai would even give off a pure and adorable vibe.
In contrast, looking at these bionic mechanical servants, Lin Lan could immediately tell they weren’t human.
Despite their smile and fluid movements, Lin Lan just felt that they lacked a certain something.
That indescribable lack made the feeling given by Bai and these mechanical servants worlds apart.
Standing behind Lin Lan, Ed stared intensely at the maids before him.
He instantly associated them with the mechanical soldiers of the Imperial Legion, yet these mechanical servants were far more refined than those simple-structured humanoid iron blocks.
"Can they be deployed onto the battlefield?"
Ed looked at Lucia, unable to restrain from asking.
"Captain Eleanor had similar thoughts, but unfortunately, they can’t. They’re all domestic-type mechanical servants, and their built-in chips prevent them from executing any aggressive or harmful actions."
Lucia shook her head: "Based on my tests, the only thing they can do when facing danger is to try their utmost to protect the humans around them."
Ed’s face immediately showed an expression of profound disappointment.
Given their demonstrated agility, there’s no more perfect warrior for the battlefield than them.
"Then let them undertake the duty of guarding the Ark."
Lin Lan was quite open to the idea. For now, the number of mechanical servants he could piece together was only around a dozen; since they couldn’t be deployed on the battlefield, they might as well become one of the cornerstones of the Ark, making good use of them.
"Now take us to see your achievement, Lucia."
He steered the topic back on track: "The curse of the Celestial Calamity is drawing near, we really need that big guy to stabilize the scene for us!"
At that moment, Ed suddenly realized something.
Indeed, the Lord did bring back a big guy, but he always thought that thing was just a super large artistic treasure...
Could it be...
"Hehe, follow me~"
Lucia nonchalantly tucked the finished cannon barrel outer wall under her arm, she snuck a glance at Lin Lan, her expression was confident yet held a hint of pride, evidently ready for a ’praise me, praise me’ moment.
The three of them ascended another set of steps, Lin Lan pushed open the door linking to the back garden.
As expected, the steel Fortress with its sharp design came into Ed’s sight. He froze and stared blankly at the colossal piece of Deep Sea Treasures before him.
The streamlined fuselage and tailfins reflected blinding sunlight, with the sinister cannon barrels emerging from the hidden side doors, and the engine nozzles on the underbelly were simply mesmerizing.
It sprawled on the open ground, resembling a slumbering deep-sea giant shark.
"Master, you mean... it can move?"
Ed’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, his face was flushed, and he began to breathe heavily, a rare bit of loss of composure for this man.
"Not only can it move... it’s quite formidable when it does."
Lin Lan’s mouth twitched, that thing had taken him on hair-raising aerial stunts across the city that he probably wouldn’t forget for the rest of his life.
"I teamed up with Bai to optimize its engine module."
Lucia joined the conversation at this moment, one hand on her hip, and said proudly: "Now it can fly again!"
At the same time, an identification panel popped up in front of Lin Lan.
[Item: Police-Type Multifunctional Aerial Patrol Aircraft (Partial functions repaired)]
[Quality: Purple]
[Function 1: Supersonic Speed (Damaged)]
[Function 2: Quantum Heavy Cannon (Repaired)]
[Function 3: Energy Shield (Repaired)]
[Function 4: Energy Cycle Regeneration (Repaired)]
[Description 1: The Company’s Warfare Department allowed the Expansion Department’s reckless actions, indifferently watching as Ms. Martina fell step by step into the starry sky.]
[Description 2: I can’t stand it anymore■■■■! The ’Omnipotence’ of the Celestial Principle is a complete lie! It can’t help us! We must shatter the chains held over the world by this false god!]